States Committed to Detecting and Arresting Drunk Drivers During the Dangerous Holiday Driving Season

Drunk driving deaths increased in 2012; annual high visibility enforcement and awareness campaign aims to educate and protect the public

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The arrival of the holiday season marks the start of one of the most dangerous time periods on U.S. roadways. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, as many as 900 people could lose their lives in drunk driving crashes nationwide.

To combat this problem, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and its members, which include all 50 state highway safety offices, are joining with federal and state law enforcement officials to kick off the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over mobilization. The annual campaign combines high visibility enforcement with paid advertising and grassroots outreach to detect and deter drunk driving. It began December 13 and runs through January 1.

“We’ve made tremendous strides in changing the social norms associated with drinking and driving, but the problem is far from solved,” said GHSA Deputy Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “Alcohol-impaired driving claimed 10,322 lives last year, an increase of 4.6 percent compared with 2011. That’s an alarming statistic and one we’re committed to address.”

States are employing a variety of measures to address the problem, including calling for ignition interlock laws for all first-time offenders. Currently, 18 states have enacted these lifesaving laws, and GHSA continues to encourage other states to follow their lead. To assist in this effort, GHSA is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Centers for Disease Control on a long-term study to assess state ignition interlock best practices. The findings are expected to be available in early 2014.

GHSA also supports efforts to develop and test new in-car technology known as DADSS (Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety). The system users sensors installed in a vehicle’s passenger compartment to measure blood-alcohol content by breath or touch to ensure a driver is below the legal .08 threshold for impairment. While the technology holds promise for saving thousands of lives annually, the research is still in the early phase of development. In the meantime, states are leveraging enforcement and education tactics to remind the public about the dangers of impaired driving. These include:

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is launching a new public awareness effort to promote designated driving called DDVIP. A Smartphone app directs designated drivers to maps showing the location and descriptions of nearby bars that have agreed to offer free, non-alcoholic drinks and other incentives to designated sober drivers. A dedicated DDVIP Facebook page, along with Twitter, Instagram and other social and broadcast media are being used to promote the program. OTS is also urging motorists to “Report Drunk Drivers - Call 911!” through 600 digital freeway message signs. Additionally, 39 special multi-agency DUI Task Force Strike Teams, hundreds of local DUI saturation patrols and special warrant/probation sweeps targeting the “worst of the worst repeat offenders will be deployed during the holidays.

The Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO) will partner with local media outlets to host “wet demo” workshops to illustrate how alcohol impacts a person’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. The MHSO also funds a full-time DUI enforcement team known as SPIDRE (State Police Impaired Driving Enforcement Effort). These seven troopers are assigned to areas that have a high incidence of impaired driving crashes and work with local police to augment their enforcement capabilities particularly during holiday periods. The state will also honor the victims of impaired driving crashes at its 10th annual Maryland Remembers Ceremony, which calls attention to the impact impaired driving has on those left behind.

In New York, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) is joining with the New York State STOP-DWI Association and local and state police for the annual Holiday STOP-DWI Enforcement crackdown. The initiative uses saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and underage drinking bar sweeps to remove impaired drivers from the road. The State is also running television and radio commercials not only to call attention to alcohol impaired driving, but to drugged impaired driving, as well.

Both the North Dakota and Oklahoma Highway Safety Offices are promoting the merits of being a designated driver. Paid advertisements in North Dakota include the message Don’t Forget TODD (TODesignate a Driver), while Oklahoma law enforcement officials appear in public service announcements airing statewide to stress the importance of designating a non-drinking driver.

The Tennessee Governor's Highway Safety Office (GHSO) is working to ensure all drivers ARRIVE at their destinations safely. GHSO and Middle Tennessee Law Enforcement agencies announced a 50-county enforcement campaign to encourage Tennesseans to make safe choices when driving on Tennessee roadways. Law enforcement will step up traffic safety initiatives throughout the holiday season.

The Vermont Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is mobilizing law enforcement to saturate the state with impaired driving enforcement. Last year, more than 80 percent of police agencies participated in the statewide holiday DUI campaign. To bolster participation, the GHSP is providing a heat map to law enforcement showing the locations of impaired driving crashes and arrests. A DUI Task Force is also being deployed to run saturation patrols in key geographic areas around the state.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) has developed WAdrivetozero.com to engage state residents in adopting a zero roadway deaths goal for themselves and their families. A video explains the Washington State’s goal of target zero. The website features safety tips for holiday partygoers and hosts, and features a link to printable designated driver gift cards. WTSC is also leveraging broadcast and online media to target men 18 to 34 years of age with impaired driving messages, and is distributing coasters to bars and restaurants.

About GHSA®:
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy, enhance program management and promote best practices. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GHSAhq or follow us on Twitter at @GHSAHQ.